The once fortified town of Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule grew around an ancient monastery established in the 6th century. Explore the narrow streets of this wine-growing town and discover architectural secrets around the cavernous nave of the Abbey Church of the Holy Cross. This temple was built in the 12th century and has been renovated over the centuries, including a great deal of restoration work conducted in recent years. Venture into the historic centre of Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule and see the Museum of Wine and Land, the 15th-century belfry —with a splendid spiral staircase— and the Benedictine courtyard. The local wine, Saint-Pourçain, is part and parcel of the identity of Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule. This AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée) wine region is one of the oldest in France. Its wines used to be served at the table of the kings of France. These wines are made from the Pinot noir and Gamay red-wine grape varieties and the Chardonnay and Sauvignon white-wine grape varieties, along with Tressallier, which is only grown in and around Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule. Come and meet the numerous winegrowers established in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, who will be glad to take you on visits and tastings. Crossed by the Charles de Gaulle bridge, built in the 17th century, the Sioule river weaves its way around the town and is home to a stunning range of local fauna that makes it a fishing paradise. It flows past important natural spaces in the heart of the town, such as Île de la Ronde and Les Cordeliers, which make Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule a wonderful place to live in. Nestled in the heart of the Bourbonnais, Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule is a key business hub in its region and a powerful engine of job creation in the Allier department, attracting world-renowned firms such as Louis Vuitton, ZINQ, Intersig, Potters, Colas and many others.